A case of alleged caste-based discrimination has surfaced from Metasar village in Patdi taluka of Gujarat’s Surendranagar district, where a Scheduled Caste family has reportedly been socially boycotted and denied access to water from a public well.
The incident came to light after a video related to the alleged discrimination circulated in the area, prompting police action and triggering a wider debate on untouchability and caste-based exclusion in rural India.
FIR Registered Under SC/ST Atrocities Act
Following a complaint, police registered a case under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 against several individuals accused of stopping the family from using the village well and allegedly using caste-based abuse.
Those named in the complaint include Kukabhai, Dharmshibhai, Mansukhbhai, Pratapbhai, Somabhai, and two women. Police have begun investigation and initiated legal proceedings.
Authorities have also assigned a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP)-level officer to probe the matter, considering the seriousness of allegations involving social boycott and denial of access to a public water source.
What the Complaint Says
According to the complaint filed by Dilipbhai Bhikhabhai Rathod, a resident originally from Metasar who now lives in Rajkot, his family had returned to the village when the incident occurred.
During their visit, a woman from the family reportedly went to fetch water from a public well but was stopped by some villagers. The accused allegedly prevented her from drawing water, used casteist slurs, and misbehaved with her.
Police said an FIR was registered after preliminary verification of the complaint and available evidence.
Police Say Investigation Underway
Deputy Superintendent of Police Parth Parmar said that statements and evidence have been collected so far and further investigation is in progress.
“All necessary evidence has been collected and further investigation is underway. Steps are being taken to detain the accused and proceed with legal action,” he said, adding that efforts are being made to ensure such incidents do not recur.
Allegations of Continued Discrimination in Rural Areas
The incident has also drawn reactions from social and religious voices. Buddhist monk Bhante Pathik claimed that caste discrimination remains prevalent in parts of Surendranagar district and continues to affect Scheduled Caste communities.
He alleged that in some villages, social restrictions still exist on everyday practices such as grooming styles, mobility, and access to public resources.
He further said that discrimination has contributed to religious conversions, claiming that over 380 people in the district have embraced Buddhism in the past decade under his guidance.
